I had the old orange colored branches, and I bought blue spray paint to contrast. Combined together I chose a gray container and this provided anthurium.
After the workshop, I rearranged the branches at home. I think the remade one feels more like what I wanted. (8/18/2026)
DPW (Dutchess, Putman, Westchester county) and Wasetsu study groups held a summer workshop on making an arrangement using Trifoliate orange branches, taught by our sensei Judy Hata, on August 15 at the home of Roxane (our class leader). We brought our own green (or hosta if you have) and dried/dead branches, Trifoliate orange branches and flowers provided. Also bring a dish for potluck lunch to share after the workshop.
We had about 18 people attend, in the outdoor of Roxane’s beautiful front yard under shady trees. It was a gorgeous Saturday morning, breezy and not humid! I only posted some of them. See below:
I recently found a letter from my husband writing to me about him coming back to Taiwan to take ECFMG Examinations and vacation from military leave (軍醫官) in Penghu (the outside island of mainland Taiwan). The very first time, we finally saw each other after our engagement; it was already two months passed. I wept tears of joy when we met! His words are so sweet and full of love. He wrote “whenever he sees me or is at my side, it makes him find the world so peaceful and beautiful!”
I was truly touched by reading his letter and remember how much he deeply loved and cared for me. These letters keep me going and give me strength to take care of him.
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| Colors in Contrast, zinnias were from my daughter in law’s garden |
Six months ago, my husband and I went to see the Swam Lake Ballet, we had a good time together. Once again, on 8/9/2026, we attended the classic music concert at the Bard college for their Summer Music Festival. The program was “Mozart and His World”. Thanks for my granddaughter Jordan, I received two free tickets from her. She worked part time at Bard college as her summer job. She will be back to school soon for her senior year of USC (University of Southern California). She’s my first grandchild, a beautiful and working hard young lady. we are so proud of her!
This afternoon’s program was about reimagining two musical contests between Mozart and his Italian contemporaries. Today’s Mozart music was totally unfamiliar to me! But the seats were great, the music was pleasant, two sopranos and baritone were remarkable! Overall, we enjoyed the performance. It brought back memories of our old dates. I temporarily took my mind off my worries for a moment. Life is good for now! (8/9/2026)
The last week of July, all my family members got together on vacation at my older daughter Vivian’s beach house (Lewes, Delaware). We haven’t seen them for a while, they live in Baltimore. It needs 5 hours to drive to get there, I was worrying about my husband at first, but I was glad we went along with them finally. We were lucky he was able to cooperate, no problem with the long drive! After all, I was so delighted that our children and grandchildren had good time together; cooked, went to beach, ate out and enjoyed the take out of jumbo crabs at home! Vivian is a licensed architect from UPenn, she just recently renovated her beach house. The house is so amazingly beautiful and big enough to accommodate four families and 14 people comfortably! I was so glad and grateful for everyone that helped me out with their dad. I think this vacation could stimulate some good for his brain, he remembers most of us knowing we are family! (8/4/2026)
About this arrangement: I found a bunch of dried statice(?), because of that dull color, I thought I need a beautiful delicate container for it, so I chose the blue crystal bowl. The bunch of dried statice arranged for mass base into the bowl, rest of materials were rose of Sharon and foxtail. The result was not dull anymore, right?!
There were really no other flowers available, I had only big and small white hydrangeas, a bunch of lavender and branches. They had been sitting in my Ikebana room for two days. Because of the container I would like to use, I eyed black painted wood sticks and also added the bamboo mat for more appeal. I arranged all the materials into that particular vase. Do you like my arrangement?
It’s been a while, I have not done a single piece of Ikebana since June. These days in my mind I know I should go to my daughter’s home garden to pick up some flowers, but the medication is making me too tired all the time. Even so, at the end of day, I am glad that I still effortlessly arranged an upright free style using whatever I had in hand and in my garden! (7/16/2026)
Materials: Mitsumata, wild Queen Anne’s lace, Marigold, ballon flower and hosta / antique basket
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Last couple weeks, we celebrated my husband’s 86th birthday and 250 years July 4th national holiday! Summer is here, we had experienced the first heat wave for few days, one day even reached over 100 degrees F! Relieved by strong, short thunderstorm, wind and pouring rain during our family’s gathering for July 4th celebration dinner. We had fresh, much cooler air the next day!
Here are some AI created images of July 4th Independence Day celebration: They are beautiful and wish these were real. I am so touched and proud to be Taiwanese American!
